Humidifier for gasolene-engines.



P. HUNT.

HUMIDlFIER FOR GASOLENE ENGINES.

APPLICATUN FILED JULY 2.191].

lutontvd Aug.

jazz; 21 0??? PAUL HUNT, 01* BEOOKLKNE, MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDIFI'ER FOR GASOLENE-ENGINES.

Applicatlonflled July 2,1911. Serial No. 1723.323.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL HUNT, a citizen of the United States of Brooklinc, in the county of Norfolk and State or Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Humidifiers for Gasolene- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for iniproving the etticiency and smoothness of operation of gasolene engu'i'ies, especially such as are used in automobiles, by nioistening the air which passes to the in-talco of the carburetor of the motor.

()ne of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive humii'liiier which,although quite small in size will furnish ample moisture to the air.

Another object is to provide an improved device of this character having a readily removable moistening diaphragm constructed to provide the maximum area for access of the air.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the cmistruction and coi'nbination of parts substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying dra ings,

Figure 1 represents my improved device in elevation and connected to the iii-take of the carburetor of a gasolene motor. the latter being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 representsa vertical section my improved humidifier.

Fig. 3 represents a, detailed section through the lower portion of the inner wall.

Fig. 4- is abottomplan view of the water reservoir.

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view ot the nioistcniiig diaphragm and its supporting "frame.

Similar referent-e characters indicate the same or similar parts in all of the views.

A suitable base or support is'iiulicated at 1'2 in Fig. l. the humidifier resting thereon and secured thereto it desired in any suitable way.

The humidifier comprises an outer casin or shell 13 which substantially cup-sliapei., an inner wall 1% rising fron'i the bottom oti said shell. the latter having a suitable cap or cover 15 provided with a. nipple 16.

through lteinovably l'itting the inner cylindrical vall lei is.a reservoir .iT having an opening 18 in its bottom. A d --shuped closure 19 for said opening 1.8 is carried by a spring); arm 20 pivoted to the bottom of the reservoir Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

it is inverted, and the spring arm 20 carry-,

ing the closure 1!) pushed aside so that water can be poured in through the opening 18, after which the closure 1%) is returned to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the reservoir is placed in the position shown in Fig. 2,

after which only so much water will escape through the small opening as will rise to approximately the level of the tops of the notches 23. That is, water will risein the annular space between the shells 13, H to approximately the height of said notches 23.

The outer shell is provided with small holes 25 to admit air to the annular space between shells 13, 1%, such air being then drawn up. and to the iii-take of the carbureter, thorugh any suitable conduit 30 connected with the nipple l6.

To moisten the air passing as above described I employ an inverted cone-shaped diaphragm consisting of suitable textile or other material 26 supported by an openworl; frame '27, said frame being split as indicalml at it; in Fig. 5 to enable said frame to be opened or sprung out snlliiziently to enable the absorbent material. 26, which is in tubular form. to he removed from the frame and another one si'ibstituted therefor, or to enable the same one to be cleaned and returned. 'lhis-si ructure provides absorbent material ot' double thicknesses the two thicknesses being slightly spaced as clearly shown in Fig. :2. ii rct'erably the absorbentmaterial is of loose-woven fabric or it may be knitted, the interstices of the fabric being such as to permit air to readily pass through. The double thickness, however, and the extensive area of the diaphragm, owing to its cone shape and crossing the annular passage for air as shown in Fig. 2, furnishes the Iiiiihliilliiii spread of moistened surface within a quite small size of device. The dia phragm crosses the-annular passageway at an ttUlltv angle and its lower edge is consequently inunerscd in suilicient water to cause the arrows in Fig. 2,

' chamber air which is divided into small currents passing through the interstices of the fabric,

It is to be understood that in operation, the action of the humidifier is entirely automatic, the motor or engine itself furnishing l the power for drawingin the air. With my devices in place as described, the operation of the engine draws the air through holes 25, and through the interstices of the absorbent diaphragm in the direction indicated said diaphragm being automatically kept in moistened condition by capillary attraction and the feed from reservoir 17.

In order that water in the moistening may not escape through the air inlet holes 25 when swaying of the automobile or other causes result in splashing or other movement of the water too high, 1 pro vide a suitable inwardly opening Valve construction for said holes. This may consist, as illustrated in Fig. 2, ofa flexible curtain 31 of suitable material (thin rubber if d'e-- sired) which overhangs the holes. Said valve curtain may have its upper-edge secured to the innerwall of the shell or casing by any suitable means such as rivets 32 which may be riveted to said wall or may be of spring metal to expand and clamp the upper edge of the curtain between it 85 and said wall. The lower edge of the cur tain overlaps the air inlet holes but yields to admit air. When the humidifier is used in connection with a motor that is subject to such movements as would cause the water in the moistening chamber to shift about somewhat violently (such movements as often occur with automobiles, motor boats, and especially flying machines) the check valve such as described prevents escape of the Water.

Having now described my invention what I claim is:

l. A humidifier for gasolene engines hav ing inner and outer parallel walls providing an annular passageway for a current of air, a diaphragm of absorbent material consaid diaphragm rent o1"- air, and

tacting with one wall at one end and with the other wall at the other end and means for automatically supplying said diaphragm with water, 2. A humidifier for gasolene engines l1avmg a passageway for a current of air, a frame removably mounted in said passage- Way, a diaphragm carried by said frame. comprising two thicknesses of absorbent material with a space between them, and means for automatically supplying said diaphragm with Water i i n 3'. A humidifier for mg an annular passageway for air, a coneshaped diaphragm contacting at opposite endswith the inner and outer walls of said passageway and crossing said passagewa'y at an acute angle to the direction of the C111:-

means for automatically supplying said diaphragm with Water. i

a A humidifier for ing an annular passageway n for air a cone shaped diaphragm crossing said passageway at an acute angle to the direction of the cur rent or" air, and means for plying said diaphragm with water, said means comprising a reservoir adapted to continuously supply a limited amount of water, the inner 1 {all of the annular passageway having 0 ening s to limit the water to' the lower portion of the annular space con taining the diaphragm.

automatically sup- 5. humidifier for gasolene motors havinga chamber prov ded with an air inlet and an air outlet, means for supplying the lower portion of the chamber with Water,

absorbent material in said chamber, and a check valve. tor preventing escape of water through said air inlet.

a 6. A. humidifier for gasolene motors having inner and outer walls providing an annular chamber between them, the outer wall gasolene engines havgasolene engines haw having a series of air-inlet holes, an air 1,.

outlet from said chamber, means for supplying the lower portion or" the chamber with water, absorbent material in said chamber, and a flexible valve curtain overlapping the inner ends of said air-inlet holes.

in testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature. v

PAUL HUNT. 

